'Flash Gordon' (1980)

Directed by Mike Hodges Cast: Sam J Jones, Melody Anderson, Max von Sydow, Topol, Ornella Muti, Peter Wyngarde, Mariangela Melato, Timothy Dalton...

Max plays Ming the Merciless, Ruler of the Universe, Emperor of the Galaxy

Synopsis Camp 80's sci-fi cult classic. Flash Gordon, Quarterback for the New York Jets, and travel agent Dale Arden are kidnapped by discredited NASA scientist Hans Zarkov and transported to the planet Mongo in a rocket, in an attempt to stop the evil Emperor Ming from destroying Earth. Flash heroically battles against the evil Emperor and succeeds in bringing down his evil regime. Is this, however, the end for Ming...?

Max "There are three types of acting in Flash Gordon; over-acting, no acting and Max von Sydow" There is simply no doing-justice to Max's inimitable performance in 'Flash'. This is the performance that got me - and I'm sure many others - hooked on him. Max is simply amazing as Ming - as if born for the part. For a long time I compared (very unfairly) every subsequent Max performance I saw to that of Ming the Merciless!

Bald, with a pronged Fu Manchu beard, arched eyebrows, a five o'clock shadow and more than a little eye shadow, Max - the typical Aryan - is transformed as Ming. The dark make-up accentuates his piercing blue eyes, his voice resonates as that of the evil Emperor, while his demeanour is imperious and at times even swaggering.There is always something majestic about Max's performances, but as Ming he really has the aura (no pun intended!) of alien royalty!

Each of his scenes are priceless. We first hear Ming at the opening of the film, when he threatens to destroy Earth. His evil laugh even made it into Queen's release 'Flash' - meaning that technically Max has had a chart success! While Flash and Dale are on the plane, we see Ming's face appear in the clouds, though I hear this was deleted in some versions. Our proper introduction to His Imperial Majesty takes place in his palace in Mingo City. It is a scene forever etched in my mind, and one of my favourite moments in any film, ever. Ming appears to rise from a hellish inferno, in what can only be described as the most fantastic outfit he has ever worn - over the top is an understatement - but certainly the coolest Emperor on the block! Ming is greeted by the adulation of his oppressed masses; "Hail, Ming, Hail! Ruler of the Universe! Hail, Ming, Hail, Emperor of the Galaxy" - whoever wrote that line alone needs an Oscar!

When Prince Thun offers his loyalty to his Emperor, Ming asks him with evil flippancy to throw himself onto his sword. When Thun tries to assassinate Ming, Mr Merciless drives him through with his own sword. Max's face is a picture of both vitriol and disgust as he inflicts the deadly thrust. Gotta be cruel to be kind! We get an explanation of Ming's motives in his little chat with Dr Zarkov, because "I thought might amuse you to know this - before your mind is gone..." It also turns out that Ming is a bit of a letch, as he orders Dale to be prepared for his "pleasure." Having changed into something more comfortable, though not much, Ming enters his sumptuous bedroom - with very feminine-sounding doors!! - only to find Dale to have done a runner! Pretty annoyed, Ming orders his agents (Generals Klytus and Kala) to "stop at nothing" to retrieve the all-American girl. Needless to say, Ming gets his wicked way - but not without first consenting to the torture and banishment of his dear daughter, Princess Aura.

A particularly favourite scene of mine is that in which Ming offers Flash Earth as a vassal provence, to rule in his name, saying Earthlings will be spared, if "satisfied with less". The scene is funny, as it's amusing to know that Mr Jones isn't really blonde and has brown eyes - while Max really DOES have blonde hair and blue eyes! Ming finally marries Dale after a rather unorthadox exchange of vows - "Do you promise to use her as you will? Not to blast her into space?" - but is undone by Flash's timely arrival seconds before the Moon crashes into Earth.

In a dramatic finale, Ming rather stupidly doesn't take the nearest door back into the palace, but instead runs straight into the path of the oncoming Rocket Ajax - piloted by nemesis Flash - ready to be skewered on its long spike. Ouch! Though Max seems to have a wail of a time during the rest of the movie, here he manages to convey pathos as Ming slides himself off the spike, leaving a smear of blue/green blood as he does so. Defeated, Ming sucks himself into his ring which drops to the ground. As the closing credits role, however, a black-gloved hand picks up the ring and with a burst of that terrific evil laugh, sets the movie up perfectly for a sequel, which sadly never came about.

Trivia Max's costume weighed an immense 70 pounds and he could only stand in it for a few minutes at a time Arnold Schwartzenegger was originally offered the role of Flash, but he hadn't an American-enough accent. That said, Sam J. Jones' role was entirely dubbed. Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane makes an appearance as a guy at the airport - filmed on the Isle of Skye, in the north of Scotland. The film's budget was huge at the time - around $50 million The role of Ming was offered to Keith Carradine Max and Sam J Jones, who played Flash, are the same height - 6ft 4"

Quotes "Klytus, I'm bored. What play-thing can you offer me today?"/ "I like to play with things awhile...before annihilation!" "Pathetic Earthlings! Who can save you now?!" - (not in film, but used in trailer) "Pathetic Earthlings! Throwing your bodies out into the Void, without the slightest incling of who or what is out here! If you had known anything about the true nature of the Universe, anything at all, you would have hidden from it in terror!" "It's what they call tears. It's a sign of their weakness." "Every thousand years, I test each life system in the universe.  I visit it with mysteries: Earthquakes, unpredicted eclipses, strange craters in the wilderness.  If these are taken as natural, I judge that system ignorant and harmless; I spare it.  But if the hand of Ming is recognized in these events, I judge that system dangerous to us.  I call upon the great God, Dyzan, and for his greater glory - and our mutual pleasure - I destroy it, utterly." Ming: Nice confession.I commend you. Klytus: Execute her? Ming:  Nooo... too kind. Aura will be banished to Fridgia the day after my wedding. One year             in a cavern of ice will cool her blood.  And then... who knows?  Perhaps We will marry             her to someone... worthy of her treacherous nature. Zogi:     Do you, Ming the Merciless, Ruler of the Universe, take this Earthling Dale Arden,              to be your Empress of the Hour? Ming:    Of the hour, yes. Zogi:    Do you promise to use her as you will? Ming:   Certainly! Zogi:     Not to blast her into space? [Ming glares at Zogi] Zogi:    Uh, until such time as you grow weary of her. Ming:   I do. Dale:     I do NOT! "You pitiful fool! My life is not for any Earthling to give or take!"

Edition I've seen 'Flash' on TV a number of times. With each successive screening the censors in Britain seem to have been increasingly lenient. Cuts have included part of the Ming bedroom scene, mild swearing, Klytus' eyes popping out and Ming sliding off the rocket spike. In the standard VHS these are restored, as in the R2 DVD, which includes nothing more than production stills and a trailer as extras.

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